Chapter 55
As I blinked, the morning sunlight streamed straight through the window without a curtain.
I turned and squirmed to fully wake myself, but the more I moved, the heavier something felt, weighing me down.
When I turned my head, I saw Aksion still asleep. It was the second time I had seen him like this, but I still couldn’t get used to it.
Aksion’s arm was resting on my stomach. That was probably why I felt the heavy sensation. The more I moved, the more he pulled me toward him even in his sleep. As I was drawn by his strength, I could hear the soft, uneven sound of his breathing.
Even in his drowsy state, his pull was strong, and my startled heart raced.
“…Can’t we just stay like this a little longer?”
A small voice pierced directly into my ear. Goosebumps ran down my neck. The languid tone was more than I could handle.
I was the one who told him not to go last night, but by morning, all that courage had vanished, leaving only me, unsure of what to do.
‘Embarrassing.’
The more vividly I remembered last night, the more my mind became a mess.
“…Wait a moment.”
“Just a moment is fine.”
He closed his eyelids and buried his face against me. When I raised my hand to scratch my itchy neck, I felt something hard.
It was a necklace.
“What’s this?”
“A birthday present.”
It was the very gift he had promised to give me when we were alone. The heavy necklace felt warm, carrying the heat of my just-awakened body.
“A gift? Let me see it in the mirror.”
“There’s a portrait inside as well.”
“What?!”
At his words, I abruptly sat up. I wanted to see what portrait was inside and tried to take the necklace off, but my hands kept slipping. Eventually, unable to wait, Aksion reached out and unclasped it for me.
The large amethyst pendant was almost the size of a small charm. When I flipped it over and pressed the center, it clicked and slowly opened like a door.
“…What is this.”
My voice trembled slightly. Aksion was looking at the portrait with me from behind.
“It’s so cute!”
I couldn’t contain my exclamation and held the necklace right up to my face.
Inside was a portrait of Aksion as a child. Even though it was the size of my thumbnail, it didn’t fail to show his cuteness.
In fact, the small size made it even cuter.
Aksion must have already had a perfect face even then. I could see the charm that would captivate people as he grew up. Even I had fallen for his allure more times than I could count.
“…Do you like it?”
“Of course! That’s not even a question!”
I worried it might wear out if I kept staring, so I clicked it shut, but I couldn’t resist opening it again several times.
“I’m going to wear it all the time.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“Thank you, Sion.”
Although I had received many gifts from him, I rarely expressed gratitude. My sincere reaction seemed to please Aksion.
‘If it’s like this, maybe I don’t need to help Leonil?’
That mischievous thought lasted only briefly. The more I knew about Aksion’s childhood, the better. The more, the merrier, as they say.
Starting the day felt incredibly refreshing.
As I caressed Aksion’s cheek with a satisfied hand, his lips softly pressed against my palm.
I had temporarily forgotten last night’s anxieties thanks to the birthday gift, but last night, Aksion had trembled with unease. Just watching him made me anxious too.
‘Is he really okay now?’
Aksion didn’t look as worried as yesterday, but such unease couldn’t disappear overnight.
Unaware of my thoughts, he closed his eyes, enjoying the touch of his owner’s hand like a pet.
First, after apologizing for the commotion at yesterday’s party, I told him to send a modest gift to the nobles, and then we finished breakfast. Aksion had returned to Dierik’s villa early in the morning for Cheryl, who would be dining alone in an unfamiliar place.
Yesterday felt like a dream. My heart felt rich, like a bear who had just found honey.
“You look perfect, Your Highness.”
I shrugged at Miletta’s words.
Even though I had shown off to everyone I saw this morning, it still didn’t feel enough. I even found myself wishing that as many people as possible could see this necklace.
“Right? Isn’t it beautiful?”
“Does Aksion usually not give gifts?”
Although it had sometimes been nice to let Leonil Rockstein stay at Fenetri Hall, today it didn’t feel good. A tiny crack appeared on my otherwise smooth, porcelain-like face, as if my mood had soured.
In the morning, I had been cheerful enough to invite him to breakfast, but as time passed, I regretted that decision.
“Once you finish eating, shouldn’t you be leaving? The minor seems to have nothing else to do, right?”
“I came to rest. Is that wrong?”
“We’re not exactly resting together.”
“Didn’t you say you’d help?”
“Does it have to be now?”
A heated conversation ensued with Leonil, who never wanted to lose an argument. Miletta, watching quietly, placed a cup of iced mint tea in front of me, sensing my rising temper.
Even a single sip sent a chilling tingle to my head.
Even after calming my nerves, Leonil Rockstein remained firmly in front of me, determined not to budge until I told him exactly how I planned to help him.
“Tch, so stubborn.”
“Call it perseverance, if you like.”
Either way. I looked at him with a bored expression and sighed deeply.
The truth was, I wasn’t entirely sure how to help him either. Even if I arranged a reconciliation for them, Aksion wouldn’t dislike it, but I wanted a slightly more dramatic reconciliation.
“Surely you have no plan at all?”
“Just wait. I’m thinking.”
“Ha…”
After the yacht party, the nobles refrained from socializing and stayed in their villas. I had things to do during that time as well.
Leonil didn’t realize how significant it was that I was making time for him. He kept looking at me doubtfully.
“I’ll really help, so don’t worry. Rushing won’t make it any easier.”
Despite my brazen attitude, Leonil had no counterargument. The unfortunate one was him, not me.
Just as I was about to move on, a good idea struck me.
“…What is it?”
When I smiled and my eyes sparkled in a way different from before, Leonil took a cautious step back.
“I’ve got a good idea, Sir Rockstein.”
“…?”
I truly believed it was a brilliant idea.
But who was I, and who was Leonil Rockstein? What we overlooked was that, no matter how hard the two of us tried, we could never match Aksion’s warmth and kindness.
Most of the idea came from Sir Schubelta’s book. Although it discussed reconciliation between lovers, I thought the principles wouldn’t differ much.
[The most important thing is timing. Misunderstandings grow as love grows. Never miss the right moment. If you do…]
“Isn’t it already too late?”
“Hmm, that’s true.”
I acknowledged it and moved to the next paragraph.
[However, catching the right timing is not easy. For those struggling, Sir Schubelta’s special method is to remind each other of how precious they are. I call this the Memory Summoning Method. The most important thing when using it…]
“This isn’t bad.”
Even Leonil couldn’t help but nod at my method. At the word “memory,” he immediately recalled Aksion’s childhood, and his usually stern face was filled with nostalgia.
“So? What memory are we talking about?”
What began as a mere whim had gradually grown more serious, but I didn’t mind. I believed everything I did was ultimately for Aksion.
At the same time, I would save the poor soul who had lost his only friend.
Leonil furrowed his brows, reading something in my gaze.
The breeze passing through Fenetri Hall was a southeast wind. It carried the warm, humid air of summer.
At that time, Leonil had been dedicated to swordsmanship. No one taught him, and no one urged him to learn. He simply picked up a sword naturally when the time was right. He had real talent—so rare it was unfair to call it “just talent.”
‘At this rate, won’t I be able to find my own way to survive?’
‘You tend to underestimate yourself.’
‘You’re the only one who says that, Aksion.’
Leonil’s words weren’t entirely wrong. Unlike Aksion, Leonil had no expectations. He didn’t need to meet anyone’s standards. Sometimes that was nice; mostly, it was not. It meant no one cared for him.
Even after Leonil’s teasing words, Aksion shrugged and adjusted his grip on the sword. If he didn’t rely solely on talent, their skills were almost evenly matched. Leonil wielded his sword as if it were his destiny, with complete sincerity.
‘Your father must be extremely worried.’
After finishing his sparring session with his one and only match, Aksion, Leonil returned home to find his mother waiting.
The Marchioness of Rockstein greeted the sweaty Leonil with a look that was somewhere between disapproval and pity.
‘So this is the worry you have…’
‘Yes. That you might try to seize Lissian’s position by strengthening yourself.’
